Vertebral joint implants and delivery tools

• US 9,629,665 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Bruce M., Smith, Jeffrey D., Tanaka, Shigeru, Liou, Edward, Eyster, Edward Fletcher, Carver, Jonathan, Druker, Joshua, Leugers, Martin, Tu, Kurin, Lombrozo, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US14/297,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 : for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 : for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 : substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 : of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30168 : L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 : wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 : helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 : Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30484 : Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 : using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 : unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 : by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30733 : Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 : Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 : using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control

Abstract

A spinal joint distraction system for treating a facet joint including articular surfaces having a contour is disclosed and may include a delivery device including a generally tubular structure adapted to engage a facet joint, an implant adapted to be delivered through the delivery device and into the facet joint, the implant comprising two members arranged in opposed position, and an implant distractor comprising a generally elongate member adapted to advance between the two members of the implant causing separation of the members and distraction of the facet joint, wherein the implant is adapted to conform to the shape of the implant distractor and/or the articular surfaces of the facet upon being delivered to the facet joint. Several embodiments of a system, several embodiments of an implant, and several methods are disclosed including a method for interbody fusion.

Claims

1. A minimally invasive spinal facet implant system, comprising:

an implant configured for placement in a spinal facet joint space, the implant comprising a leading distal portion and a trailing proximal portion;

a delivery device, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a tubular body extending between the proximal and distal end and forming a lumen, and an anchoring fork at the distal end; and

a driver assembly, comprising;

a hollow implant shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen having an inner diameter, and an outer diameter configured to allow the implant shaft to extend through the lumen of the delivery device; and

a handle coupled with the proximal end of the implant shaft; and

an internal actuator comprising a shaft and a handle and configured to extend through the hollow implant shaft of the driver assembly to release the implant from the driver assembly,

wherein the delivery device and the driver assembly are configured such that, when the anchoring fork is positioned in the spinal facet joint space, the implant is positioned in the spinal facet joint space, and when the implant shaft of the driver assembly extends through the lumen of the delivery device, the implant is positioned within the anchoring fork.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchoring fork comprises two arms, each of which distally tapers towards a distal edge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side, which are configured to engage with a distal end of the driver assembly.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle attached to the proximal end of the delivery device, wherein the handle of the delivery device and the handle of the driver assembly are configured to matingly engage with one another.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal actuator comprises a rod longitudinally displaceable within the lumen of the implant shaft to release the implant from the driver assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the rod extending through the lumen of the implant shaft is further rotationally displaceable about a longitudinal axis of the rod to further assist in releasing the implant from the driver assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a screw or a nail to connect the implant to a vertebra immediately adjacent the spinal facet joint space.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant has a wedge shape.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the lumen of the tubular body of the delivery device is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the implant shaft of the driver assembly, and a difference between the inner diameter of the lumen of the tubular body and the outer diameter of the implant shaft is such that the implant shaft can slide within the lumen of the tubular body.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a metal, a ceramic or a polymer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the implant is sized and configured to be substantially located within the confines of the spinal facet joint space.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a decorticator, comprising a tubular shaft sized to fit over the delivery device and an abrasive distal end for decorticating bone.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a chisel, comprising an elongate shaft sized to fit through the lumen of the delivery device and having a chamfered distal tip.